The Role of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Cases of Sudden Deafness

Cerebrospinal fluid was examined in 20 patients experiencing sudden deafness. Pressure, protein, glucose and cell counts were measured, virus culture was done, and IgG, IgA, IgM in concentrated cerebrospinal fluid were measured by means of the single radial immunodiffusion method and IgE also by means of the radio-immunosorbent test. Pressures ranged from 110 mm H2O to 330 mm H2O and the mean being 178 mm H2O. Protein and glucose were almost normal, IgG and IgE were normal. In five cases, IgM were demonstrated. IgA ranged from 0.08 mg/dl to 1.7 mg/dl. In two cases, the viruses were cultured and were determined to be Herpes according to morphological features. In the group showing complete recovery and/or improvement, the initial pressure and glucose value were rather low; in the group showing no change, the value of IgA was low. In the two cases where virus was isolated, there was no alteration of pure tone audiometry nor was there any improvement of hearing acuity. The virus isolated from the two cases presented was of low virulence since the number of cells in the CSF was small and the virus grew poorly even after serial cultivation. Accordingly, virus such as these may act one of the causative agents in sudden deafness.